Fixture supporting and connecting device



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,698,707

S. J. AARON FIXTURE SUPPORTING ,AND CONNECTING DEVICE Filed July 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 15, 1929. y 1,698,707

s.J.AARoN FIXTURE SUPPORTING Am; coNNEcTme DEVICE Filed July z5, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 ,5am/wel J afa/ran Patented Jen, l5,

its??? SAMUEL .moois Annen, or Brionitriv; nntv Your."

FrXTUnn serpentine AND oonnnotrrne n-nvrcn.

Appuomonffuea July 23, ieee. serial- 'Nu v124526.

My invention relates 'to vcertain new and useful iinprovements vfor electrically lconnecting electric fixtures 'to wa source of power yand for mechanicallysupporting such fixtures.

V@ne of the 'objects of 'the invention is to provide devices Wherebythe installation fof any electrical fixture maybe accomplished by one simple operation, lthe operation serving to establish electrical connection to the 'ture and ythe'source of pouier and `also serving to proyide mechanical support for the fix- 'tu1je,-bracket or fan.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the use of hic'keys, or any solder, paste, rubber or friction vtype in the installation of electric lighting' liXtures, brackets, fans or Dthe electriciix'ture. i i

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a combinedoutle't box and nxture supporting' device of simple and 'conigact construction A further Yobject of the invention is to provide a combined outlet box and lixture 'supporting device, the parts of which are so designed and cooperatel with each other in such a manner that, in addition to se'rvingas a means for electrically connecting the electric vfixtureorthe like it may. also serve. to mechanically.support the fixture.

In the drawings, Figur'e 1 is a plan yiew of one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is Aa sectional Viewl yon the line 242 of Figure 1. Y

IFigure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4l is a plan view of the device having the supporting and connecting' block and cover removed therefrom. Figure 5 isa detail section on line 5-5fof Figure 3. Y

. Figure E shows the insulating element 'of the plug.

Figure a diagrammatic sh'oiving'of a lighting; system and the manner in Which the combined outlet andy supportingcevice cooperate thereivith.

Figure 8 is a Vpe'rspe cti'v'e of the supporting and connection element.

Referring tothe drawings reference numeral 1 0 indicates one Aend of a lighting fixture which usually consists ofV an vexterio'rly threaded pipe. The plug 11 which is readily and permanently mounted 'on the threads of the electricl fiture 10 consists of an integral block ofiiietal which may be brass'o'r copper or the like. The blo'cll: has a longitudinal passage" 12 which is provided ivith internal threadsat one end thereof, `which Vserve lto receive the threaded portion'ofthe fixture 1Q. The I Jvassag'e 12serves'to receive Ithe Velectric lead Wires 18-1-- and is so proportioned viith l relation to the outer ydia-:nfeierof 'the lmain body 15 iof the block that the ivalls 'remain of `substantial rthickness and are, therefore, capable of supporting ,a Weight many times fthe Weight of electric lighting fixtures lor other electric devices. ln the form the invention shown in the draujlr1g's,'theinainV body `por- 'ion 15 of the 'plug basan outer diameter exceeding one inch While the diameter 'of the passage 12 is ap]roximately.less than 'onehalflof an inch. The main bodyiporztionl is provided with external threads 16 which lare of 'the'same pitch as the threads connnonly used on electric bulbs iivhich are.y provided With 'corrugated metallic shells. The ivall v"of the passage 12 is lprovided {vit-h a sloping 'porion 17 at its yforward end, this portion being provided with an internally threaded recess' 18 adapted to receive the 'binding post 19 for connecting the Wire 13 to the vplug 11.

The forivard end of the mainbodyprtion has oblong recess so shaped that Lthehead 21 of the insulating 4body 20'sh`oiv'n in Figure 6 Will llit snugly into said recess, Whilethe shank 22 of's'aid insulating body Will enter the passage 12 as shown in Figures .2 and 3. The shank 22 is provided Withagroove 23 on one face thereof to permit f thepassage of ivirel for vconnectionto the binding post 19. The other face ofthe shank 22 is provided with a deeper groove 24;, the V'groove being extended by the 'passage l25 in `the head 21.

The forward face of thehead 21 is provided With la recess Whichreceives the metallic plate 26, the plate being held in place by the metal eyelet 27 Whichfits snugly against 'the Walls of the passage 2 5. The plate 2G`is alsopro* vided with a threaded passage 26 which 'receives the binding post y28 kfor the electrical connection 'of the Wire 14. thereto. The head of the bindingI post constitutes the center Contact of the plug.

The plug body is directly connected to' the electric fixture and the grounded Wire 13 is connected to plug", ivhereby the `plu vand the 'elec-ui@ nature are crept 1y dreun 'd n will te Seen nem fue @este uit.; the p1 t, consists of an eXtlnaHyf-hreaded etallic body madefofja solid metal lock insulating material 2O is not anchored to the plug but is so designed that it may be easily removed and replaced for the purpose of providing ready access'to the binding post -19, and so shaped as to prevent it from turning with relation to the plug body. TWhen the wires 18 and 14 are properly connected as shown they serve to prevent the loss of the insulatino` body 20.

Ihe vcombined outlet box, and supporting and connecting devices comprises a casing` 30, a cover 31, a supporting block 32 and two bodies of insulating material 33 and 34.

The casing 30 is provided with apertures 35 in the bottom thereof. These apertures Vare designed to receive screws whereby the casing may be mounted on the ceiling or on the wall of the room or it may be mounted on a joist or a beam or any other structure elenient of the walls or ceiling. The casing is so constructed as to provide integral upstanding hollow studs 36. The passage in these studs are designed to receive armored cables which may be clamped in position and electrically grounded by the screws'. The space between the adjacent studs 36 and the upright wall of the casing is somewhat thickened and is provided Vwith an interiorly threaded passage 36 to receive the screws 3Q .which hold the cap 3l against the casing 30.

A body of insulating material 33 is so shaped as to litsnugly within the casing and has mounted thereon .the terminal bars 39 and 40 which are held. in place by means of screws 4l, the lower portion of the openings for such screws being filled with sealing wax. The terminal bai' 39 is provided with binding post washerhead screws 42, 43 and 44 while the terminal bar 4Ql is provided with binding post washerhead screws 45, 46, 47 and 48. The outer face of the insulating body 33 also has mounted thereon a metal strip 50 which held in place by screw 5l in the sanielnanner that the terminal bars 39 and 40 arc hold in place. Cne end'of the strip 50 is provided with a threaded passage and extends over the center of the body 33 while the other end is provided with a binding post 58. The plug receiving resilient jack .54 is mounted in a recess of the body 33 and is i'uechanically and electrically connected to the terminal Si) by ineans'o'f one of the screws 4l.

VThe insulating body 34 is cross shaped and is disposed on the body 33 in such a manner as to divide the' surface thereof into four uadrants as shown in Fin'. This arrangement lprovides the space necessary for leading the wires from the armored cables to their respective binding posts. VVhenfthese insulated wires are properly connected they lie below the top of the casing andthe box presents a compact and neat appearance. The insulating body 34 is provided with a countersunk passage 55 through thecenter thereof and a screw V56 having a iianged washer 57 tributing plate mounted thereon passes through the passage 55 and engages the threaded passage 52 in the strip 50 for holding the body 34 in place. The screw and washer together constitute the center contact of the supporting device. The body 34 has a concentric upstanding stud 66. rl'he supporting and connection block 32 consists of a heavy metallic body provided .with an interiorly threaded central recess 58 outlet box and supporting and connecting de- Y vice in assembled relation. f

The block 32 carries a jack plug 64 ,integral therewith which is adapted to engage the jack contacts 54 and be gripped thereby, forming the ground contact. Thev block is thereby electrically connected to the dis- 39 and is readily detachable therefrom. i The block rests upon the face of the insulating body 34 and receives the upstanding stud 66 in its opening 67 which is somewhat smaller than the passage 58. A In the construction shown fourpassages receive four armored cables. It is obvious, however, that the construction may be modified to receive any number of armored cables desired. In the present instance one of the armored cables 71 is connected to the source of power and carries the two main wires 7 2 and 73, 72 being connected with the binding` post 42 on the distributing plate 39 and 7 3 being connected to the binding' post 46 on the. distributing plate 40;

Another armored cable 74 has one of its wires 7 5 connected to the binding post 53 and the other of its wires 76 connected to the binding post 47. The wires and 76 of the last mentioned cable are carried to awall switch shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. The armoredv cable 77 carries two wires, one of ywhich is connected to the binding post 43 and the other is connected to the binding post 45. The armored cable 78 also carries two wires, one of which is connected tothe binding post 44 and the other is connected to thev rflieblock is providlll) feeding' othefcircuits. The combined outlet box, supper ig and connecting device' is also so constructed' that the take-oli cable for' a wall switch isreadily provided'. It should be noted that it desired wire may be connected to one "of ythe binding posts on the distributiii'g" plate 39 and' the wires 75, T6 may serve vfor an additional circuit. For this purpose, however', an electrical connection must be established between the binding post 53 and the distributing plate l0 in order to establish proper electrical connection between the center contact 57 and the distrib'M uting plate 4:0'.

The plug and the supporting and coniie'ct-v ing block are Veach so designed that they can sustain a weight greatly in excess of Vthe weights of electric fixtures. such as lighting fixtures/or electric lans or the like, Iand the threaded endagement between the plug and b'lorcl is such as to sustain such weights. The Y weightv carried by' these elementsistransmitted through the cover and the casing vdirectly to the structural element on which tie casing 5l is mounted. The fixture i0' being directly and xedly attached to the plug i5, it is suliicient for the operator to merely screw the plug l5 home into the block 32 and thereby accomplish both the electrical connection and the mechanical installation of the fixture, without any reconnecting or resoldering of wires.

The two insulating bodies 33 and 34 are shown herein as separate bodies. It is ob vious, however, that it' desired these two bodies may be formed of one piece of material and made integral therewith. rThis is only illustrative of the numerous modiiications to which the construction shown may be subjected and, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction shown.

I claim: Y y

l. A combined outlet box and supporting and connecting device comprising a casing having a plurality ot openings in its bottom adapted to receive armored cables, a body of insulating material, within the casing, a pair ot terminal plates mounted on said body, a plurality of binding posts on each of said terminals, an element of a separable contact device mounted on said body and electrically connected to one of said terminals, an inleriorly threaded supporting and connecting block, another element ot' a separable contact device mounted on said block for co` operation with saidv firstV Contact element, a cover 'tor holding said parts in assembled relation and an insulating sleeve interposed between said cover and said block.

2. A device affording electrical connection and mechanical support lor a heavy electric fixture comprising a substantially solid metallic block having an interiorily threaded recess, an outlet box having a plurality of openings to receive the feed wires and lead wires, body of insulating materialwithin said outlet box and between the said block and the bottom of said outlet box, a flange integt'al with' sa-id block and means forl mechanically connecting' said block and said casing'.

S; ifi i electrical connecting; and 'mechanical supper ing devices for electric iditures conrprising a supporting member, a substantially solid metallic block havingv an integral flange andr an interiorly threaded recess capable oi' receiving the conventional' thread ed lampv base, an insulating body interposed between said supporting member land the flanged end of said bloeit, said flange havinga recess therein, and `means for mechanically connecting said block, insulating body and said support member intol unitary structure, said means comprising an element ensaid flange and having' a projection i insulating material, a pair ot terminal plates mounted on said body, a plurality of binding posts on each of said terminals, a separable element of a contact device mountedon said body and electrically connected to one of said terminals, an interiorly threaded supporting and connecting block, another element of a separable contact device mounted on said block for cooperation with said iirst contact element, a cover for holding said parts in assembled relation,- an insulating sleeve interposed between said cover and said block, and

a plug cooperating with said block, said plug consisting of an exteriorly threaded metallic block having an internally threaded longitudinal passage, and an insulating block lodged in one end of said passage, and a contact on said insulating block.

6. A combined outlet box and connect-ing device comprising a casing having formed integrally therewith a plurality ot hollow studs disposed on the bottom of said casing, said hollow stud serving to permit the introduction oit'cables into the box, a body of insulating material disposed within the casing, said body having a raised central portion, a setot metallic terminals mounted on one tace of the body, an electric socket on said raised central portion and a cap holding the elementsin assembled relation.

7. A combined outlet box and connecting device comprising a casing having formed integrally therewith a plurality of hollow studs ies serving to lpermit the introduction of cables into the box, a. body of insulating material disposed within the casing, a set olf metallic terminals mounted on said body at opposite ends thereof, a metallic socket having an interiorly vthreadedlongitudinal passage, said socket being disposed on said insulating; body, a raised centralr portion on said insulating` body fittinginto said passage and a cap for holding said elements in assembled relation.

8. A combined outlet box and connecting device comprising a casing having a plurality of hollow studs' formed integrally therewith and disposed on the bott m thereoi1 and reach ing to* a height substantially below the top ot' the casing, a body of insulating material disposed on the bottom of said casing and having` a surface on the level of the upper ends of said studs, a'm'etallic socket resting on said body ofinsulating material and having an interiorly 'threaded longitudinal passage, said body of insulating` material having` a raised central portion fitting into said passage and a cap for holding the elements in assembled relation.

9. A combined junction and outlet bonr comprising a casing having a plurality of openings to admit-the lead-in wires and the take-olif wires, a body ot insulating material disposed within said casing, a set of distributing,` plates mounted on said body, a plurality of binding posts mounted on each of said plates for connection with thel said Wires, a socket mounted on said body, said socket comprising` a metallic block electrically connected to one of said terminals and a cover or holding said parts in assembled relation.

lO. An electric supporting and kconnecting` device comprisinga casing, havingA aplurality of inlets adapted to receive armored cables, an insulating body disposed in said casing, a pair oi' terminal plates mounted on said body, a plurality of binding posts on each ot lsaid terminal plates, said binding posts being` adapted to connect saidV cables to said terminal plates. a socket electrically connected to said terminal plates, said socket comprising' a metallic block adapted to electrically con nect a fixture and to Asupport the weight of said lixture, a cover for said casing and means for holding` said elements in assembled relation. l

In testimony whereof I have fixed my signature.

SAMUEL JACOB AARON` hereunto af- 

